My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus) novel Chapter 21

Suddenly, a deep sense of sorrow washed over him, and he began to feel short of breath as he remembered how just a few weeks ago, she would be waiting for him in the living room with a big smile, saying, “Maximus, dinner is ready! Come on, get comfortable, and let’s eat!”

Her broad smile made him feel at ease just by looking at her. That night, the dinner had a special, homely touch.

“Do you remember what day it is today?”

“No,” Maximus replied, his tone cold and cutting.

“It’s our anniversary, silly! I knew you’d forget, but I didn’t, so I made a dinner with all your favorite dishes! I’ve been practicing with Emma, and I think I’m getting better!”

His wife was like a parrot; once she started talking, there was no stopping her. She talked and talked, telling him about her day, how she bought the ingredients, and how she had picked the freshest fruits and vegetables for the meal. Without paying attention to what she was saying, he got lost in the memory of what had happened that afternoon at his office.

That afternoon, Alexia had been working with Maximus, and he had felt the urge to relieve his stress with her on his desk. Without realizing it, she had left marks on his neck and chest. While reaching for a piece of bread, he exposed his neck, and Mary noticed the large mark. Her expression changed, and she threw a glass of wine, which shattered against the wall, staining his shirt. Maximus didn’t see the change coming, and a shard of glass nearly cut his face.

“You’re crazy! What’s wrong with you?”

“I’ve spent all day preparing this dinner, taking care of every detail, and you... you...” Mary said, struggling to keep her composure. “You’ve been with Alexia, haven’t you? I’m sick of this; I’ve had enough of you! You son of a bitch! Bastard!”

Mary had never spoken to him like that, in Hesperian, no less. Although he didn’t understand much, he recognized the curse words—those were the first things she had taught him in their initial conversations, and he knew what they meant.

“What did you just call me?”

“You’re a son of a bitch! I’m so fucking fed up with you!”

“I’ve never spoken to you that way, so why do you have to talk to me like this?”

“I hate you! Bastard!”

Eventually, he found himself at the beach—the same beach where they had spent hours walking on Mary’s 18th birthday. He parked the car and tried to calm down by listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

“How could I have forgotten our anniversary?” he murmured.

Maximus had always treated Mary with indifference, yet on special occasions, she somehow managed to make him feel comfortable with her presence. These occasions could be his birthday, their anniversary, or simply when he was sick. This time, he had forgotten entirely, and not only that, he had been with another woman while his wife was at home, cooking his favorite dishes.

He spent the whole night in the car with the windows down, reflecting on his life and how things had reached such a dead-end. He didn’t want to go back home; he just wanted to stay there, without worries or problems. In the end, managing a company seemed easier to him than dealing with emotional issues. He massaged his temples, trying to relieve the headache brought on by guilt.

The next morning, Mary woke up and looked at her face in the mirror. It was swollen, with a large bruise on the right side. The blow had split her lip, leaving a bruise at the corner of her mouth, and her eye was marked as well. Seeing her reflection, she broke down into tears. From that day on, nothing would ever be the same. She trembled at the thought of that man being at home, not wanting to see him, much less have any contact with him.

She took a shower, got dressed, and left the house as quickly as she could. However, fate was not kind to her. Maximus arrived as she walked toward the parking lot to get into her small car. He was still wearing the same clothes from the night before, looking a bit disheveled. Even so, his presence filled her with terror, causing her to run to her car with trembling hands, fumbling for the key to open the door. A large hand grabbed both of her hands, trying to stop her. She started feeling dizzy, her surroundings spinning, and finally, she fainted.